Airman dies in fishing accident

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stuart Camp
  • 16th SOW Public Affairs
Tragedy struck Hurlburt Field when a 16th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter died June 16 in an accident on Gator Lake.

After an intensive search, Tech. Sgt. Earnest "Rock" Rockamore's body was found at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

"This is a time of sadness," said Col. Norman Brozenick Jr., 16th Special Operations Wing commander.

The search for Sergeant Rockamore began immediately after his boat was found empty at approximately 10 a.m. June 16 on the lake, a body of water adjacent to the golf course's clubhouse.

Within an hour, Air Force combat divers, an MH-53 helicopter and an AC-130 aircraft were on-site and actively searching for Sergeant Rockamore.

"This (the effort) is all about faithfulness," Colonel Brozenick said while watching the operation from the shoreline. "We're keeping the faith with our wingmen that he will not be left. I'm seeing the goodness of our Airmen and the outstanding partnership we have with the community."

Specialists from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department and the Gulf Coast Search and Recovery partnered with the on-base search teams, which had more than 100 people in the water or on shore Saturday morning.

Overhead a UH-1 helicopter supported the search.

Almost 20 off-duty firefighters sat on the shoreline - their attention focused on the half-dozen boats on the water.

"I can't make them go home," said Chief Master Sgt. E.J. Rouvet, 16th CES Fire Emergency Services Flight chief. "It's one of their own out there."

Divers from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron and the 720th Special Tactics Group spent more than 10 hours in and on the water during the search. Volunteers searched portions of the lake from their bass boats.

Gator Lake is a popular site for recreational fishing. Rockamore was an avid fisherman, spending many mornings on the water, according to his fellow firefighters.